Recently I was at a
relative’s naming
ceremony overseas where
there were Yorubas, other
Nigerians, and non-
Nigerians. Every now and
then, an elderly relative,
the baby’s grandmother,
would walk around
greeting and appreciating
the guests for their
presence. It became
obvious the guests were
amazed by such unusual
act of courtesy. My elderly
relative, perceiving their
curiosity, turned to the
guests and remarked,
“You might wonder why I
keep greeting you since
you’ve been here, it is the
Yoruba culture to regard
guests during a ceremony
or an event. In fact, the
Yorubas have a salutation
for every encounter or
experience in life.”
The sparkle in the guests’
eyes signaled that they
desired to know more of
such charming etiquette.
This experience reminded
me of a book that I had
read sometime ago about
an American gentleman
who lived in Yorubaland
between 1859 and 1860,
he wrote of his
experience: “There are not
a more affable (pleasant)
people found anywhere
than are the Akus
(Yorubas). Not even
Frenchmen are more
thorough in their
attention to politeness
than the Akus. Two
persons, even strangers,
hardly ever pass each
other without exchanging
salutations…”
The Yorubas have an
appropriate salutation for
every occasion, for
instance: Aku aaro (good
morning); aku ale (good
evening); Aku ise (for
being industrious); Aku
abo (for returning from a
journey or an outing); Aku
ile (greeting someone
who has been at home);
Aku atijo (long time, no
see); Aku ijoko (for sitting
down); Aku iduro (for
standing); Aku iroju (for
expressing sympathy);
Aku eru (for carrying a
load or bearing a burden);
Aku alejo (for entertaining
a visitor or a stranger);
Aku inawo (for being
generous); Aku oriire
(congratulation s); Aku
faaji (for relaxation); Aku
odun (for festivity); Aku
aajo (appreciation to
someone showing
sympathy); Aku otutu (for
cold weather); Aku ooru
(for heat); Aku idele
(greeting a family whose
member is on a sojourn).
So rich is Yoruba’s style of
greetings that it goes
indefinitely and this
explains why the Yorubas,
home and overseas, were
historically known as the
Akus.
Aku igba yi o. Ijoba
tuntun yii atuwa lara o
By: Adegolu AD
Source: Proudly Yoruba @facebook

Interesting piece.
These days they say more of Eku and not Aku

Indiraserv